Methods and apparatus for multi-carrier communications with variable channel bandwidth

Abstract

A mobile station using orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA). The frequency processing circuitry and the processor of the mobile station are configured to scan spectral bands for a first signal. The first signal having broadcast information and being in a first band, the first band being a portion of a full bandwidth of the cell, wherein the broadcast information includes bandwidth information. Further, the frequency processing circuitry and the processor are configured to receive additional broadcast information by processing a second band being in a single sideband in the frequency domain of the full bandwidth of the cell with respect to the first band. Further, the frequency processing circuitry and the processor configured to access the cell using the broadcast information received in both the first band and the second band.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mobile station using orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA), the mobile station comprising:
 frequency processing circuitry; and   a processor, wherein:   the frequency processing circuitry and the processor are configured to scan spectral bands for a first signal, the first signal having broadcast information and being in a first band, the first band being a portion of a full bandwidth of a cell, wherein the broadcast information includes bandwidth information;   the frequency processing circuitry and the processor are configured to receive additional broadcast information by processing a second band being in a single sideband in the frequency domain of the full bandwidth of the cell with respect to the first band; and   the frequency processing circuitry and the processor configured to access the cell using the broadcast information received in both the first band and the second band.   
     
     
         2 . The mobile station of  claim 1  wherein the first signal includes synchronization and cell identification information. 
     
     
         3 . The mobile station of  claim 1  wherein reception of the first signal and the processing the second band occur in a same OFDM symbol. 
     
     
         4 . A method comprising:
 scanning, by a mobile station, spectral bands for a first signal, the first signal having broadcast information and being in a first band, the first band being a portion of a full bandwidth of a cell, wherein the broadcast information includes bandwidth information;   receiving, by the mobile station, additional broadcast information by processing a second band being in a single sideband in the frequency domain of the full bandwidth of the cell with respect to the first band; and   accessing, by the mobile station, the cell using the broadcast information received in both the first band and the second band.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the first signal includes synchronization and cell identification information. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein reception of the first signal and processing the second band occur in a same OFDM symbol. 
     
     
         7 . A base station comprising:
 frequency processing circuitry; and   a processor, wherein:   the frequency processing circuitry and the processor are configured to scan spectral bands and transmit a first signal, the first signal having broadcast information and being in a first band, the first band being a portion of a full bandwidth of a cell, wherein the broadcast information includes bandwidth information;   the frequency processing circuitry and the processor are configured to transmit additional broadcast information by processing a second band being in a single sideband in the frequency domain of the full bandwidth of the cell with respect to the first band; and   the frequency processing circuitry and the processor configured to access the cell using the broadcast information received in both the first band and the second band.   
     
     
         8 . The base station of  claim 7  wherein the first signal includes synchronization and cell identification information. 
     
     
         9 . The base station of  claim 7  wherein reception of the first signal and the processing the second band occur in a same OFDM symbol.